Koshkin’s transformation twisted into a grotesque form, no longer resembling the cat he once was. His body warped into an incomplete, sabertooth-like monstrosity, his muscles bulging and shifting beneath layers of venomous sludge. The massive, glowing eye in his forehead scanned the broken landscape, fixating on Lucian, who hovered just above the street, clinging to the relative safety of a half-collapsed building.

The air around them felt heavy, charged with unease. Koshkin’s massive frame shifted as if battling itself, his form both unstable and horrifyingly powerful. His feline features were twisted and exaggerated, the sabertooth fangs dripping with venom that hissed as it hit the pavement. Each of his steps was slow, calculated, yet unpredictable--an unsettling dance of oozing corruption and lethal energy.

Lucian hovered a bit higher, trying to mask the anxiety bubbling inside him. His fists clenched tightly at his sides, his knuckles pale. “What the hell are you?” His voice was tinged with irritation, but the underlying fear was hard to ignore.

Koshkin’s grotesque maw stretched into an unsettling grin, the edges of his lips curling unnaturally wide. "I’m your final test, Lucian. And from where I’m standing, you’re failing miserably."

Lucian’s heart pounded in his chest as he floated further back. He forced a smirk, though it didn’t reach his eyes. “I’ll pass just fine once I rip you apart.”

---

Elsewhere in the fractured city, Tony stumbled into a crumbling alley where Kenji had collapsed, his body trembling with exhaustion. The chaos that surrounded them--the crumbling buildings, the distant echoes of explosions--felt surreal.

Tony, himself battered from battle, leaned against a shattered wall, trying to catch his breath. "Kenji," he called out, his voice hoarse, "you still with me?"

Kenji barely managed to lift his head, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He attempted a weak smile. "You look worse than I do," he muttered. "What the hell happened to you?"

Tony gave a weak chuckle, waving his hand dismissively. "Long story. But what about you? Where’s Olorun?

Kenji’s smile faded as a look of dread passed over his face. "I don’t know," he admitted. "Everything happened so fast. One moment we were fighting a monster together, and the next... Olorun told me to run. I didn’t even get a good look at what we were facing."

Tony frowned, his concern deepening. "Olorun told you to run? From what?"

Kenji’s eyes were distant, his voice barely a whisper. "Something powerful... something wrong. He was serious, Tony, dead serious. I’ve never seen him like that before. It was like he knew we didn’t stand a chance."

Tony clenched his jaw, his mind racing. If Olorun was that scared, they were dealing with something far beyond their usual enemies. "We need to find him," Tony said after a moment. "If he’s still alive, he’s going to need help. If not..." He didn’t finish the sentence.

Kenji pushed himself up with difficulty, his body weak but his resolve stronger. "Yeah, let’s move. We can’t leave him out there."

Tony nodded, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on both of them as they began to move through the ruins. Every step they took felt like a journey deeper into the unknown.

---

As they made their way through the city, Kenji suddenly stumbled, his hand flying to his chest. His fingers came away slick with blood. "Tony," he gasped, his voice strained, "can you use your Negative Necrotic to close this up?"

Tony shot him a wary look, knowing the cost of what Kenji was asking. "I can... but you know the deal. If I do this, I’ll be wiped. Are you sure you want to do this?"

Kenji gritted his teeth against the pain, nodding sharply. "Do it. I don’t have time to bleed out."

Tony knelt beside him, pressing both hands over Kenji’s wound. A dark, swirling energy began to coalesce around his fingers, a sickly green-gray light wrapping itself around the injury. The eerie energy seemed almost alive, slithering into Kenji’s body, knitting flesh and muscle back together with an unnatural speed.

The silence that followed was broken by Kenji’s sudden cry of agony. His body convulsed, his chest feeling like it had been set on fire. He fell to the ground, clutching his chest as the pain overwhelmed him. "What the hell, Tony?!" he gasped through gritted teeth. "It’s burning!"

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Tony, now leaning weakly against the wall, smirked tiredly. "Yeah, sorry. Negative Necrotic heals the wound, but it magnifies the pain tenfold. Thought I told you that."

Kenji glared at him, his chest still on fire. "No, you didn’t tell me that!"

Tony shrugged weakly. "Well, you’re alive, aren’t you? That’s what counts."

Kenji pushed himself up, wiping the sweat from his brow. He muttered something under his breath, glaring at Tony as he staggered back to his feet. "Next time, just warn me."

"Yeah, yeah," Tony sighed. "Now let’s find Olorun before I pass out."

---

Meanwhile, across the city, Kuri and Charlie were navigating through the debris, the chaos of the battlefield swallowing them whole. The destruction was like nothing they had ever seen--civilians ran in all directions, the sky was choked with smoke, and every building seemed ready to crumble at any moment.

“Charlie!” Kuri yelled over the roar of collapsing buildings, her face pale with concern. “This place is falling apart! We need to find a way out before it gets worse!”

“I know!” Charlie shouted back, frustration clear in his voice. “But we can’t leave until we get the map. World 2--remember?”

Kuri shot him a look. “no fool We need World 1’s map to get out of here. Without it, we’re stuck!”

As they rounded a corner, they were suddenly met with a terrifying sight. Olorun was locked in a brutal battle with the Morphine Sovereign--a shifting, nightmarish entity whose form constantly morphed and mutated. Olorun, his body radiating electric energy, was launching bolts of lightning at the creature. The electricity surged through the Sovereign’s amorphous body, but instead of weakening it, the creature absorbed the energy, becoming even more twisted and monstrous.

Kuri’s heart dropped. “Oh no…”

The Morphine Sovereign let out an unholy screech, its liquid form spiraling into a massive fist that slammed into Olorun, sending him flying into a nearby building. His body hit the rubble with a sickening thud, and he lay there, unmoving.

Charlie’s eyes widened in horror. “We have to help him! Now!”

Kuri nodded, but as they moved closer, she suddenly stopped, her expression shifting. “Wait, Charlie,” she said urgently. "Let me try something."

Charlie glanced back at her, confused and slightly impatient. “What? Now? What are you talking about?”

“I just remembered,” Kuri said quickly, gripping her staff tightly. “One of my abilities--it might work!”

Charlie gestured toward the monster. “Well, hurry up! We don’t have time to waste!”

Kuri swallowed, turning to face the Morphine Sovereign. She raised her staff, pointing it directly at the shifting mass of liquid and flame. “Hey, ugly!” she shouted, hoping to catch its attention.

The Morphine Sovereign paused, its eyeless gaze focusing on her as its body twisted in preparation to strike.

Kuri summoned all her energy and unleashed Blaze Strike--a searing line of fire shot out from her staff, aimed directly at the creature. The fire blasted across the battlefield, hitting the Morphine Sovereign square in the chest.

But instead of weakening it, the Sovereign’s form rippled and changed, absorbing the flames just as it had the lightning. Its once-crackling body now burned with an intense fire, flames licking up its liquid form as it grew even more powerful.

Kuri’s face went pale. “Uh… Charlie?” she whispered, dread sinking in. “I think I just made it stronger.”

Charlie stared at the creature, which now radiated both lightning and fire. He turned to Kuri with a look of disbelief. “Great,” he muttered. “Just what we needed.”

The Morphine Sovereign roared, its new powers crackling in the air. The ground beneath it began to melt, scorched by the intensity of its heat. Kuri tightened her grip on her staff, her confidence quickly evaporating.

“I thought it would work!” she said defensively, taking a step back.

“Yeah, well,” Charlie grumbled, pulling out his weapon, “next time try not to turn the monster into an unstoppable firestorm.”

Kuri rolled her eyes. “Thanks for the advice, genius.”

Charlie sighed, stepping forward as the blazing Sovereign advanced toward them. “Alright, we need a new plan. Got any more tricks, or was that it?”

Kuri hesitated. “I’ve got some... but I’m not sure they’ll help against this thing.”

Charlie glared at her, then turned back to the monster. “Great. Looks like we’re improvising.”

Meanwhile Hunk stood tall in his office, a figure of power and dominance. His imposing frame filled the room, every inch of him radiating authority. The custom-fitted tactical jacket he wore clung to his muscular physique, its reinforced shoulders and subtle glowing seams hinting at the advanced tech woven into the fabric. The metal-plated accents along his arms and torso only added to his intimidating presence. His cargo pants, with their reinforced kneepads and matte black finish, completed the look, while his heavy-duty combat boots gleamed with a chrome finish that caught the light as he moved.

Three women surrounded him, their voices a mix of admiration and excitement.

"Mr. Hunk, you look absolutely stunning today," one said, her tone flirtatious as she leaned closer, her eyes trailing over his muscular form.

The third woman chimed in, a soft giggle escaping her lips. "You're always so composed and powerful. No wonder you're the mayor of this city."

The second woman, perhaps more confident than the others, stepped forward, holding out a small leather case. "We brought something for you, Mr. Hunk. A little gift."

Hunk raised an eyebrow, his slicked-back dark hair catching the dim light of his office. The streaks of silver in his hair gleamed, a subtle indication of his maturity and wisdom. His sharp jawline and the scar running from his left eyebrow to his cheek added to his fearsome appearance, a reminder of the battles he'd fought and the enemies he'd bested. He took the case from her, a faint smirk crossing his lips.

"You brought me money," he said, his voice deep and commanding, echoing in the spacious room.

The first woman nodded eagerly. "Yes, we know you don't need it, but we thought--"

Hunk cut her off with a dismissive wave of his hand. "I like money. It’s not about needing it. It’s about control. Power. And the way it flows through this city."

He set the case down on his desk, turning his attention to the large window that spanned one wall of his office. His eyes narrowed as he looked out over the city skyline, his glowing glasses shifting to a tactical mode, scanning for any disturbances. His sharp features darkened, and a low growl escaped him.

“Who the hell is messing with my city?” he muttered, more to himself than to the women behind him.

They exchanged nervous glances, sensing the sudden change in his demeanor.

"Mr. Hunk," the second woman started, "should we call for backup? You know, let your security handle it?"

Hunk turned, his massive frame casting a shadow across the room. His arms crossed over his broad chest, the stylish arm brace on his left arm glowing faintly, its holographic interface pulsing as he accessed various city surveillance feeds.

“No,” he said firmly. “This is personal.” His glowing pendant, an ancient relic hanging from his neck, seemed to intensify as he spoke, a supernatural aura radiating from it. “No one messes with my city and walks away unscathed. Not while I'm in charge.”

The third woman stepped forward cautiously. "But Mr. Hunk, what if it's dangerous?"

Hunk smirked, his eyes flashing with a dangerous gleam. “Dangerous? I am the danger in this city.”

With that, he turned toward the door, his every step heavy, controlled, and deliberate. His boots echoed against the marble floor, each one a resounding reminder of his power. The women remained behind, watching in awe as the most feared man in the city walked out to face whatever threat had dared to challenge him.

"Stay here," he commanded, his voice low and lethal. "I'll take care of the people messing with my city."